Construction of the primary hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Games is facing significant delays, causing concerns about its readiness for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The main test event for the 16,000-seat Santagiulia arena, originally planned for December, has been relocated to a smaller venue, and no alternative testing date has been set yet, as confirmed by local organizers to The Associated Press.
There is a possibility that the main arena may not host any games until the women’s preliminary round competition begins on February 5, just one day before the opening ceremony. CEO Andrea Varnier of the Milan-Cortina local organizing committee acknowledged the tight timeline, expressing awareness of the challenges.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, while raising concerns about the construction progress, emphasized that the responsibility lies with the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation. The league’s board of governors meeting highlighted the ongoing worries regarding the completion of the main rink.
The Santagiulia ice testing, initially set for the under-20 world championship in December, has been relocated to the Rho Fiera hockey venue on the outskirts of Milan. Not only does the delay impact the playing surface, but it also affects the testing of essential facilities like concession stands and washrooms within the new arena.
Despite these setbacks, tickets for events at the Santagiulia arena are already on sale, with high prices reaching up to 1,400 euros for the men’s gold medal game on February 22, the closing day of the Olympics. The return of NHL players to the Winter Games was announced last year, allowing top hockey talents to compete in the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
Canada’s men and women teams are set to begin their Olympic campaigns in February, with matches scheduled at different venues in Milan. The schedules for the men’s and women’s tournaments have been released, outlining the path to the medal rounds and the highly anticipated gold medal games.
As preparations for the Winter Olympics continue, concerns persist over the timely completion of the main hockey arena in Milan. The race against the clock to finalize construction and conduct necessary testing remains a critical focus for organizers and stakeholders involved in delivering a successful Winter Games experience.
